The Nepali Congress Central Working Committee has decided to reject the resignation of President Gagan Thapa. Taking moral responsibility for the party and himself losing the election, Thapa submitted his resignation to Vice President Bishwaprakash Sharma on Wednesday.

The decision to reject Sharma's resignation was unanimously taken at Sunday's meeting. A total of 102 people, including party office bearers and members, who spoke over the two days, voted to reject President Thapa's resignation.

In his resignation letter, Thapa had mentioned that although the changes that have begun within the party have inspired enthusiasm among the cadres, there has not been enough time to effectively convey the message of a 'changed Congress' to the general voters. He had said that even though he resigned on moral grounds, he has not separated himself from the party's journey of reform and reconstruction. With the decision to reject the resignation by the Central Working Committee, Thapa has returned to the role of party president.

The meeting also relied on seven grounds for rejecting the president's resignation. It has been stated that the loss of the election is due to structural problems and circumstances beyond the president's control. The Congress has concluded that President Thapa's leadership is still necessary in the current complex political situation. 

The main grounds mentioned are that accepting the resignation is likely to lead to unnecessary instability, confusion and a decline in the morale of the cadres, the need to continue the implementation of the reform program (Congress 2.0) initiated after the special general convention, and the need for the party to focus on the upcoming 15th general convention. Similarly, the Congress has stated that it is appropriate to reject the resignation while respecting it, as it is not mandatory but a moral and voluntary matter.

The next meeting of the Congress will be convened soon under the chairmanship of President Thapa. Joint General Secretary Prakash Snehi said that the upcoming meeting will take forward the preparations for the 15th general convention. The then Central Working Committee led by former President Sher Bahadur Deuba has already passed the schedule for holding the regular general convention on 27-31 Baisakh in Pus.

'The issue of holding the general convention within the same schedule or postponing it for some time will be discussed in the upcoming meeting,' Snehi said. The decision of the meeting states that in addition to the leadership selection, the 15th general convention will include amendments to the statute, organizational restructuring, and future strategy determination. 

Deuba faction starts parallel activities 

Former President Sher Bahadur Deuba's faction has started parallel activities, saying that it will not immediately participate in the regular general convention process. Leader Krishna Prasad Sitaula said that the current Central Working Committee will not be able to participate in the general convention process until the court decides on the dispute regarding the party's legitimacy. 

To participate in the process, the Deuba faction has raised the issue of dissolving the Central Working Committee that came from the special general convention or adjusting it with the previous Central Working Committee, which the Thapa-led Central Working Committee is not in favor of accepting. According to an official, President Thapa and Vice President Sharma have decided to hold informal discussions to bring the Deuba faction to an agreement until the next Central Working Committee meeting is called. ‘The discussion is about including the 33 central members that the president can nominate,’ the official said.

While the meeting was going on in Sanepa under the chairmanship of Vice President Sharma on Sunday, a meeting of the Deuba group was held at the residence of the then acting president Purna Bahadur Khadka. The group has concluded that it will be active in parallel activities until the court’s verdict is issued. According to leader Min Bishwakarma, who participated in the meeting, there are preparations to call a meeting of the old establishment elected from the 14th general convention to review the election and discuss contemporary issues. He said that the meeting will be called as soon as possible after discussing with all parties. 

He said that since the basis for unity between the two parties is weak even before the Supreme Court’s verdict, parallel activities may continue for some time. ‘Party unity is done by the weak party, and no party seems ready to be weak right now. Therefore, it seems that there will be parallel activities ahead of the court's verdict,' he said, 'After the court's verdict comes, everyone will have to accept it, only then will the basis for unity be built.' The writ filed by the Deuba faction against the Election Commission's decision to recognize the Central Working Committee elected from the special general convention has been scheduled for presentation on 22 Chaitra. 

' Extreme factionalism and internal non-cooperation in the defeat'

The meeting has passed the 27-point report presented by Deputy Chairman Sharma as the preliminary election review with amendments. 'Reports have also been asked to be sent from the districts and constituencies regarding the election results. The preliminary review and the report from the districts will be integrated and reviewed again,' said spokesperson Devraj Chalise. 

The main reasons for the defeat in the election were extreme factionalism and internal non-cooperation, the performance of the coalition government that was contrary to public expectations, increasing public anger due to the structural weaknesses of the past governance system (including 32 government changes in 35 years), the Gen-G youth movement expressing dissatisfaction with the old political forces, and the impact of algorithms in the digital age, which gave new forces a reactive advantage.

The Deuba faction has expressed dissatisfaction that the previous government and leadership were blamed for the election defeat rather than itself. Deuba faction leaders have said that the main reason is the extreme dispute created within the party in the name of the special general convention on the eve of the election. However, the Central Working Committee has said that it was not possible to face all the challenges within 50 days after the special general convention. ‘The meeting has concluded that all these reasons are not personal but structural, systemic and situational,’ the decision said.

Leader Minendra Rijal has objected to the phrase written in the report that even 32 government changes in the past 35 years are the reason. ‘If this conclusion has been drawn, did our leaders make a mistake by restoring democracy?’ he said. The Deuba faction is also preparing to call a meeting to formally discuss the reasons for the party’s defeat in the election. Leaders Shekhar Koirala, Bimalendra Nidhi, Prakash Sharan Mahat, Bal Krishna Khand, Gyanendra Bahadur Karki, Dhanraj Gurung, Shashank Koirala, Jeevan Pariyar, Badri Pandey, Deepak Giri, Ramesh Lekhak were present in the Deuba faction’s meeting on Sunday. Among those present in the meeting, Shekhar Koirala, Bimalendra Nidhi, Prakash Sharan Mahat, Gyanendra Bahadur Karki, Deepak Giri had contested the election by taking tickets signed by President Thapa. 

Former Congress President Deuba and his wife Arju Rana are also preparing to return from Singapore soon. According to a statement from Deuba's secretariat, the Deuba couple have now left for Hong Kong from Singapore. It is said that they are scheduled to return to Nepal after undergoing further medical treatment in Hong Kong. The Deuba couple had gone abroad without even casting their votes. Deuba had gone to Singapore on 13 Falgun. Before that, Arju had gone to India on 10 Falgun. She went directly to Singapore from India. 

Demand to make the report of the inquiry commission public